SYDNEY (AP) Halfback Mitchell Pearce scored two tries and set up another on Sunday to lead the Sydney Roosters to a 40-18 win over the Wests Tigers and into second place in Australia’s National Rugby League.
The Roosters trail first-place Melbourne by four points and are level with the defending champion Cronulla Sharks on 20 points each.
On Saturday, the NRL moved outside its traditional ”home” venues – from Bathurst in central New South Wales state to Darwin in the Top End of the Northern Territory.
At Bathurst, in the central tablelands of the state about 200 kilometers (120 miles) northwest of Sydney, two Matt Moylan try assists in the final three minutes led Penrith to a 24-20 comeback win over Canberra at the 10,000-seat Carrington Park stadium.